Recently received the following e-mail indicating the following events are cancelled for the weekend of February 13 -14, 2010
This cancellation includes the “George Washington Classic” 10-K Race on Saturday, February 13th; the Revolutionary War Encampment at Fort Ward Park on Sunday, February 14th; and on Monday, February 15th the Friendship Breakfast at the Holiday Inn & Suites Hotel, Tomb Ceremony at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, and the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town. The Birthnight Banquet and Ball will be held as scheduled on Saturday, February 13th at Gadsby’s Tavern and the Committee will announce the winners of the “Cherry Challenge” on Monday, February 15th.
Additional information is available at www.washingtonbirthday.net.
If you’re interested in reenacting, want to learn more about it and want to know what events are happening this season you’ll be able to find all you’re looking for by visiting wereenact.net. Recently we’ve updated our events page to show exactly what period was being portrayed. So if you’re a big American Civil War fan, you’ll be able to find all the events dedicated to the Civil War quickly.
Another change that is occurring for this season is we don’t have enough man power to go through the page and edit the dates. Most reenacting events happen within the same month annually and you can find more about a particular event by clicking on the event. By clicking on the events you’re interested in attending this year will take you directly to the website. Through that website it will tell you all the important information you need to know.
Good luck! We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable reenacting season.
If you have any comments are suggestions on how we can improve the website please comment here.
Since December 13th there have been a total of six entries you’ve might have missed. These entries have been posted on the Reenactors Journal and will continue to do so throughout 2010.
2010 Articles: to start 2010 I’ve listed ideas on a few articles that I’m interested in writing. Granted I’m always coming up with ideas that might not appear within this article. I will be posting upcoming events relating to a time period but not all time periods this is later discussed within another article.
Winter Events: I will post only one entry every season (Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall) in regards to the events happening that season. It will include information, a photo and link to learn more about a particular event happening each season.
Blog Spot: this was my first review on a blog that I have read or know of relating to reenacting, living history, travel, history, photography, graphic design and web design. Each month I will find a new blog(s) to write about and review on.
Top Movie: I hope to find new and exciting films to watch. I’ve listed several films I know of that portray a particular period in hopes to find the top 10 greatest period films. I am open to any suggestions on films that need to be add in order to find the greatest period films.
Instrumental Music: this Christmas I’d received a cd that I really enjoy listening to bear in mind I’ve only had it for six days. So I did some research on other period music that people might be interested in. I divided them into five categories (World, Century, Military, Celtic and Misc) and talked about some of the groups or composers who are featured within the cds that I’d discussed. If you’re interested in finding new music to listen to I’ve pretty much talked about everything in regards to period music.
French and Indian War Events: as part of the new year I’ve recently decided to gather information in regards to a particular time period events. Starting with the most heavily traffic or searched period (note this is based on my blog & website status). I hope to post an entry on 1812, Napoleon Wars, English Civil War, World Wars and Vietnam events. I will NOT be posting any events regarding the American Revolution or American Civil War events due to the fact that there are too many.
So that is what you’ve missed. You can either read the following entries or not.
If you would like to be “in the know” of things this season I suggest you subscribe to Reenactors Journal.
Happy Holiday!
Due to this blog becoming very slow, we’ve decided to start a new one. So therefore this will be the official final entry for this blog. We will begin to post new entries onto our other blog Reenactors Journal. We hope to post more pictures and helpful information. If there is a specific topic you wish for us to research and talk about please don’t hesitate to let us know.
We hope to post a new layout of our website either sometime this week or the weekend after Christmas. We made some changes within the introduction of our website in hopes that people will be able to find the information they are looking for much quickly. If you have sent a request to add a link onto our website it has either been added or it will be added once we’ve updated our website with the new layout.
What’s New In 2010??
> Newsletter – the blog has taken over the time it would take to create a newsletter. Therefore we will not be creating a newsletter each season, since most of the information has appeared or posted within the blog. If you would like continued information in regards to reenacting and or history I would subscribe to the Reenactors Journal no later than January 2010 since that is we will be posting updated information on the events that are happening during the Winter of 2010.
> Blog Spot - each month we will be featuring blogs that we like that focuses on history, preservation, reenacting and or art. This will be a great way to learn more about what other people write about in the regards to the hobby.
> The Journey – if you’ve taken a close look at our “Reenactors Journal” you’ve noticed that we have a new page known as the “Journey”. Takes a look at the experiences of a new recruit and the obstacles they’ve had to overcome in order to achieve their goals of finding a unit, gathering equipment and finally participating at events. This is pretty much a way for people to learn more about the early stages of reenacting.
> Herbs & dyes – we will also feature a few articles dedicated in 18th century dyes and herbs.
> Photography – next year we hope to feature more photographs within our blog.
If you have any suggestions or comments on ways we can improve our blog and or our website please don’t hesitate to leave a comment. We appreciate any criticism you may have. ~Thanks!
The holidays are coming very quickly and soon we will all be celebrating the coming new year. There has been very positive feed back about the site and hopefully we will continue to gather helpful information in the coming new year. I would like to take a moment to reflect on some of the treasure memories I had this year. I was fortunate to go to two Civil War events and several 18th Century events one being the Battle of Monmouth. I took some really good photographs, but I see what needs improving regarding my photo technique. I hope to improve that in the coming new year and post more photography.
I hope everyone enjoyed all their fond memories that this past year brought them and hope more to come in the coming new year. To view all images taken this year please visit the following website.
Starting on January 2010 we will be posting all new blog entries onto our Reenactors Journal. Recently we’ve posted an entry that lists various Living History workshops. These workshops have been listed onto our site, but we felt that they could not be easily found within the list. We will continue to update this entry as we find new workshops going on within the year.
Why these workshops are important? They help those who have a considerable amount of interest in a particular period to learn more about it and how people lived during a particular time period. It guides those who have an interest in a special skill or craft to learn how to start and complete a project.
What will you learn? These workshops guide reenactors and those new to the hobby to learn more about the lives of the people they are portraying. Some of these workshops you will learn how to cook using a hearth, hand sewing clothing, spinning, period dancing and other various activities.
Where are they located? All of the workshops I’ve listed have been found by viewing area historical museums many of them who have workshops that teach people more about the 18th and 19th Century life.
How to view the list? If you would like to view the entry please click here!
When someone says “reenacting” images of Union and Confederate soldiers jump into my head. It is an image that has been with me since I was 16 yrs old roaming around the battlefields of the Eastern U.S.A. Within previous entries I discussed the greater time periods in which people portray in the U.S.A which include the American Civil War, Revolutionary War, Renaissance and the World Wars.
I did not discuss some very incredible and important time periods that people around the world portray along with some time periods we Americans respect greatly due to it being a part of our culture.
The English Civil War – is not part of our American history but it is portrayed heavily in the United Kingdom. To find an actual unit in the states that portrays this period is like finding a needle in a haystack. You will find very limited groups that do portray this time period in America. If you have the chance to travel going to an event that portrays this time period will be a different experience than what you would experience going to an event in the states. Here are a few groups that portray this time period in the United Kingdom.
Lord Ralph Hopton his Regiment of Foote
Sir Thomas Blackwell his Regiment of Foote
Colonel George Fenwick his Regiment of Foote
Earl of Loudoun’s Regiment of Foote
Prince Rupert’s Blew Regiment of Foote
Tower Hamlets Trayned Bandes
French & Indian War – a war that had a greater impact in America as the colonies moved west to the Appalachian region into what was known as indian territory. Who would of thought that our greatest enemies would help us later to defeat the British during the American Revolution. The French and Indian War is a topic in which all 18th Century reenactors should know about since it is something that happened during this time. I believe that it also will give you a greater appreciation and a different perspective of the time period than if you were to just learning about the time at which you’re interested in portraying.
French and Indian War Commission
3rd Battalion Pennsylvania Regiment
Compagnie Franche de la Marine du Contrecoeur
Compagnie LeBoeuf
Waggener’s Company of the Virginia Regiment
Napoléon War – We have a wide variety of information if you would like to portray the Napoleon War in Europe and have listed many groups that portray this period in America. There are a few places that have annual events in the states so you will have to go to over seas to portray this time period heavily unless you are willing to also portray the 1812 War. Much of the American attitude of living history museums and museums in itself is “if it didn’t happen here than it will not be portrayed here”. That attitude does not include the World Wars since we lost many young men during that war and various wars of the 20th Century.
Brigade Napoleon
2nd Virginia Regiment
5th Maryland Infantry
US Brigade Niagara
1812 War – This war is probably one that is safe to say that it is not being portrayed as often as say the Civil War or the American Revolution. Not to say that it was not important or did not have any impacted in American history. Because without this war we would have a different national anthem and the White House would have not been burned down by the british. All events within our history are important because the effects of such events help shaped this nation as well as other nations around the world.
2nd Virginia Regiment
5th MD Regiment Vol. Infantry
1st Rifle Battalion-Aisquith’s Sharp Shooters
Aisquith’s Sharp Shooters
World Wars – 20th Century is not at all that distant and much of what happened is still remembered by those who live through it. From the American Depression to the Vietnam War there are still people who survived those harsh time and therefore the information is much more easily accessed than previous centuries. It also increases the value of accurately portraying the period. Currently we do not separate WWI and WWII units on our units list, but we hope to do it by 2010 along with some other house cleaning projects. The following are just a few units that portray the World Wars. They are not all the units we know of. Believe me there are a lot more listed on our website.
2.SS Panzer Div. “Das Reich
2nd Ranger Battalion Company E
45th Infantry Division
52nd Guards
83rd Infantry & 329th Regiment
The following time periods we still do not have a good amount of information and a list of units. If you currently are involved with or portray any time period please do not hesitate to e-mail us or leave a comment within our blog. The following time periods we hope to have a list by the end of 2010. If there are any other time periods that need to be listed please leave a note within this entry. ~ Thanks!
> French Revolution
> Mexican American War
> American Frontier
> World Wars
> Korean War
> Vietnam War
If you wish to post your unit within our website or blog please give us the following information with your comment or e-mail…..
> Group Name
> War or time period you portray
> Where you’re located
> Contact Info (e-mail or website)
There are a lot of things and do this holiday season, but why not take some time to relax and explore area landscapes and sites. Twice I was fortunate to spend a few days after the Christmas holiday in Williamsburg Virginia and Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Both trips I will never forget due to being completely out of the ordinary.
Here are a few places that are having something going on this December.
December 5-6, 2009: One of the busiest weekends of the month. There are several events happening the weekend of December 5th. There is the Seventh Victorian Christmas at the Samuel Mudd House and the Soldier’s Christmas at Carlyle House in Alexandria Virgina.
If you do not do anything else the must do event that weekend is the Annual Antietam Illumination. The illumination remembers the men who lost their lives during this one day battle. It is the only weekend out of the year, when people have access to the park at night. During any other days out of the year the park is closed by sunset, but on December 5th the park stays open in order to allow people to view the illumination. The Illumination will not be open to the public until 6:00 PM.
It will be changed to December 12th due to bad weather.
To learn more about this event please visit the battlefield’s website or wereenact.net.
December 12 -13, 2009: Due to it being rapidly getting cold outside there will be very few two-day events. So please to make double sure when, where and what time an event you’re interested in before going to an event. Battle of Iron Works Hill will be held on December 12th in Mt. Holly, New Jersey. This is an American Revolutionary event that is held annually, which features cook demos, musket firing and more.
To learn more about what events are happening in New Jersey please visit the New Jersey welcome center.
December 25, 2009: ”Witness the reenactment of the Crossing of the Delaware. General Washington will address the troops and cross the river.” If you can not make the crossing of the Delaware then join the hundreds of Revolutionary Reenactors and spectators for the annual Patriot’s Week. From December 26th to 31st enjoy everything from lectures to tours to dinners and for the annual battle reenactment. The finale of Patriot’s Week ends with the annual Battle of Trenton. The battle reenactment will end with a small parade that ends at the Barracks Museum.
This will be the final monthly event update, until the new year. We will start posting event updates once every season and we hope to keep you posted of upcoming events towards the end of January 2010. We will post a seasonal update of events at the start of each season. Example January = Winter, March= Spring, June = Summer and September = Fall.
On a cool November morning citizens and visitors of a small town in Pennsylvania remembers those who fell in one of the bloodiest three-day battles in the American Civil War. The year is 1863 and the place is Gettysburg Pennsylvania. The Confederate army numbering of 75,000 men is being followed by the Union army of 95,000 men. Lee decides to divide his army and has one brigade head out towards the east but they are met with General Meads army. This is just the beginning of what Lee and Mead faced and continued for another 2 days until finally within the last fatal day Lee suffered too many fatalities and retreats.
On November 21st hundred’s of spectators line the streets of Gettysburg to watch thousands of uniformed Civil War reenactors march through the town to remember those who never came home. This happens each year at the Annual Remembrance Day Parade which begins at 1:00 p.m. Be sure to be there ahead of time because it does get very crowded.
From sunset to 9 pm there will be a Remembrance Illumination held at the Soldiers’ National Museum. Luminary candles will be placed on each Civil War grave as a testament to the sacrifices made here in 1863. It’s an event that can’t be missed. If you are in the Battlefield after dusk you will be caught and given a $75 dollar ticket. Due to the day light hours the time when the battlefield officially closes from their summer hours of 10 pm to their winter hours of dusk on October 31st.
Reenactors portraying the Union army march @ the Annual Gettysburg Remembrance Day Parade.
The Trostle Farm circa July 6, 1863 — Alexander Gardner photo
